Part III

Case Study

Local Research

Introduction

Greenbelt is a 12-hectare (29.6-acre) mixed-use complex situated at the center

of Manila’s Makati business district. This multiphase complex features 28 multifamily

rental units, an urban park, and a lifestyle center catering to the shopping, dining, and

entertainment needs of office workers in the area and the residents of nearby upscale

neighborhoods. It is located within the larger Ayala Center, a 36.8-hectare (91-acre)

mixed-use complex that includes offices, hotels, shopping centers, and residential

towers. The developer of Greenbelt, Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI), is the real estate arm of the

Ayala Corporation and the leading real estate developer in the Philippines. The

company has been involved in the creation of the Makati central business district in

downtown Manila since the 1940s and has been building the aforementioned Ayala

Center in stages since the 1960s. The first phase of this major mixed-use center was

Glorietta, a 34-hectare (84-acre) section of offices, shopping complexes, department

stores, and hotels. Located west of Glorietta, Greenbelt is bounded by Makati Avenue

on the east and Paseo de Roxas Street on the west. Care has been taken to ensure

that all components of the Greenbelt development are complementary to each other.

Built during the 1970s and refurbished in 2002, Greenbelt 1 offers convenience and
food services to daytime office workers in the area. It also houses cinemas and cultural

entertainment venues including Onstage, a live theater that is home to Repertory

Philippines, as well as the ArtFilm Theater, which shows independent local and

international films. Greenbelt 2 is positioned as a place for “power lunches” and high-

end dining, yet it also includes 28 one- and two-story apartments for rent. The most

prominent of the phases, Greenbelt 3 is a lifestyle center with a mix of food,

entertainment, and shopping outlets that opens up into a park with a water feature.

Greenbelt 4 is an upscale retail destination. The theme of Greenbelt 5—in the planning

phase as of March 2006—will be fashion lifestyle retail with a mix of luxury international

brands and hip Filipino designers. The Ayala Museum, adjacent to Greenbelt 4, is a

four-story glass- and granite-clad structure that features a permanent display of

paintings, archeological and ethnographic collections, and temporary exhibits, as well

as a museum shop and café.

Background
 Greenbelt is a mixed-use development featuring restaurants, entertainment

venues, shopping outlets, and housing located within Ayala Center, a 36.8-hectare (91-

acre) mixed-use complex in Makati City, one of Manila’s premier business districts. Built

during the 1970s, Greenbelt 1 offers convenience and food services for daytime office

workers. In addition to its 28 two- and three-story rental units, Greenbelt 2 was designed

as a place for “power lunches” and high-end dining. Greenbelt 4 is an upscale retail

destination and Greenbelt 3, the most prominent component of the project, is aimed at

professionals in their 20s to 40s with food, shopping, and entertainment options.

Greenbelt 3’s four-level complex has two distinct faces. The street-facing facade has a

unified row of shopfronts, while the interior faces a park with its curvilinear form that

incorporates public pathways terraced up to outdoor seating and dining areas for

restaurants and cafés.

Evaluation of the Case

 Design Analysis

Each phase of Greenbelt has a distinct character.

GreenBelt 1

Greenbelt 1 is a three-story shopping center with restaurants and fast-food

outlets as well as convenience retailers like Ace Hardware and Rustan’s supermarket

on the ground floor.

GreenBelt 2

Greenbelt 2 is more finely detailed centers, each with a specific focus. Greenbelt

2 houses a variety of fine-dining restaurants, with the 28 multilevel apartments sitting

above them.
GreenBelt 3

Greenbelt 3 is a four-level complex with two distinct faces. With its unified row of

storefronts, the street-facing facade projects a more urban character, while the interior

facade faces the park and has a more organic, curvilinear form that incorporates public

pathways terraced up to outdoor seating and dining areas for restaurants and cafés.
GreenBelt 4

Greenbelt 4 is smaller to who offers two levels of international designer brands

including Prada, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, and Tod’s. Its interior finishes are

intended to be elegant and understated.

GreenBelt 5

Greenbelt 5 showcases international luxury brands and highlights the best of

Filipino artistry and ingenuity. It is the culminating piece of the Greenbelt re-

development, which completes its long-term plan to develop into a complete lifestyle

center. Greenbelt 5 celebrates the modern flavor of Filipino design, lifestyle and culture

while staying true to the company’s commitment to sustainability. Taking a targeted

approach to attracting local residents and families, the retail mix spans from local

fashion and accessory designers to prominent international brands such as Paul Smith

and Escada. On the second floor, the Youth Zone features an active lifestyle center,

complemented by a Family Zone, fitness center and spa on the upper levels.
 The park orientation required careful site planning and design to ensure

that retailers would have sufficient exposure and clear connections to

surrounding areas. Greenbelt’s park setting allows for a more open design than

is typically found in shopping complexes, especially those in tropical climates.

Individual shops and restaurants are air conditioned, but the upper-level

walkways, public areas, and auxiliary seating areas are open. Glass and metal

canopies and awnings provide shade and protection from the elements.

Louvered openings allow for air flow. Colorful paving materials on the ground

level help integrate the center with the park, and materials such as timber and

local stone were intended to complement the natural setting.

 The ground floor of Greenbelt 3 is occupied by cafés and restaurants, as well as

fashion retailers such as Lacoste, Kate Spade, Nike, Adidas, Springfield, and Gas and

several one-of-a-kind retail outlets. The second floor primarily features casual dining

outlets and cafés. The third floor houses the cinema ticket lobby, cafés, bars, and

Timezone, a family entertainment center. A five-screen movie theater operated by Ayala

Theaters Management occupies the level above the third floor. Another theater,

MyCinema, features 50 seats, holds private screenings, and showcases international art

films.
 Landscaping and attention to the setting were important aspects of the project

design. The developers expanded the existing park from 1.6 hectares (four acres) to

three hectares (7.4 acres) and moved all parking beneath the center. Two hundred new

trees, shrubs, flowering plants, and water features such as fountains and pools were

added, and 440 trees on site were saved prior to construction and then integrated into

the project.
 Distinct “zones” with tropical, zen, and palm themes were incorporated into the

design. Ayala Land also retained and upgraded the chapel on the site. As of March

2006, the Santo Niño de Paz Chapel in the center of the park holds masses daily.

 Design Consideration

 Floor Plans

 Elevations

SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN

https://www.makaticity.com/shopping/greenbelt-mall.php

https://www.makaticity.com/shopping/greenbelt-stores-directory.php

https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g298450-d2648995-

i310538235-Greenbelt_Mall-Makati_Metro_Manila_Luzon.html

 https://www.makaticity.com/shopping/greenbelt-mall.php

 https://www.makaticity.com/shopping/greenbelt-stores-directory.php

 https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g298450-d2648995-

i310538235-Greenbelt_Mall-Makati_Metro_Manila_Luzon.html

 https://www.ayalamalls.com/main/malls/ayala-greenbelt